This afternoon I visited one of the local gun shops to purchase some carry ammo for a couple of my .45 ACP’s and .40 Smiths.
Funny how gunshops work. You walk in with a small purchase in mind and you walk out oweing your credit card company more than your home morgtage payment for one month.
I wound up purchasing the SA Loaded MC “Operator” Nicely done combat gun with the MEU (SOC) intentions all in one package. Come out of the box with a standard guide assembly. That’s something I haven’t seen in a while with a $1,000 plus 1911. No two piece FLGR or one FLGR. Sticking to the basics.
I’m impressed with the SA quality of this particular 1911, especially at the price point.
Pics soon.
Here’s a decent article with photos of the SA Loaded MC “Operator” 1911 .45 ACP
I’ve had one for several years now and have run it in a couple Vickers classes and a very high round count Pennington class, and it’s always delivered.
I love mine too. I even like the grips that came on it. They feel a little large , but I still like em. The Armory Kote finish is just beautiful. You gunna love that gun. Funny, I read that article this AM too. These h-guns are very hard to find. Enjoy that awesome gun. My X300 light is a tiny bit loose, but its OK. Bladetech will make a holster for 1911’s with rail, or with rail, / light combo. I like mine. Go blast it.
I love mine and it has served me well. In fact of the half dozen 1911s I have it’s my go to blaster. It has run flawless and seen a few classes as well. Of all the Springfield’s I believe it’s not only the best value but one of the best foundations for a more custom pistol. It utilizes the National Match frame and Slide and is not from Brazil.
Mine found its way to Scott Mulkerin at SDM Fabricating for a little love. Checkered front strap with high grip, raised beavertail, C&S Trigger components, SDM one piece mag well, Lanyard loop and new mainspring housing, SDM custom rear sight with Tritium Bar, Custom cut Crimson Trace laser grips and tuning. Back to Springfield Custom Shop to match the factory two-tone finish.
Honestly, I should but another. Like you I like the fact that it’s a bushing pistol without the guide rod.
Having purchased one of these pistols late last fall, I appreciate the comments and pictures posted by other MC Operator owners. Looks like I’ll be spending a wee bit more cash on mine.
I’ve said it before; IMO the SA MC Operator is the best value in 1911’s today. I sold mine with over 7000 on it, going strong (only because I built my own in LAV’s class). Know some guys on another team who used them with a couple well over 20k, with only a loose plunger tube and worn extractors replaced.
I got to “audit” a federal agencies 1911 transition course. The MC Operator acquited itself very well. Someone there made the observation that they’d rather have two MC Operators for the price of the one that was issued. The targets sure didn’t notice any difference… I even swapped pistols with that guy for a course, and our targets looked exactly the same as they did before; the whole “Indian and the arrow” thing.
Don’t worry about “upgrades” right away, except maybe grips. Spend the money to put several thousand rounds through it and get some training.
I just want to say that I hate all of you that come across MC Op’s. I spent months looking for one and never found one in shops, the shops weren’t able to get them, and when I found them online I had just missed the sales. I ended up with a LW Op, but I’d still love the MC over it. Off topic, I know.
I have not had good luck with any Loaded/TRP pistols from SA–my MC Oper had the front sight fly off in the first 50 rounds and seems unable to get through a magazine without a stoppage. It is going back to the SA Custom Shop to get rebuilt as a Pro model…
The guy at the counter was trying to sell me a damn Kimber, but as has been said the MC “Operators” don’t come around gun shops that often so I didn’t have desire for Kimber gun.
I think the MC Operator is a great choice to run either as-is, or as a base gun to do some additional custom work. I’ve heard of so many guys here and on 1911 forums that have had good experiences with them. The other SA “Operator” models are similarly good, I’ve even had a good experience with the full-size LW Operator (though I did pay a few hundred $$ to have mine worked over for reliability, had a few key parts swapped out for higher quality, incl the extractor).
Is it especially challenging to have a FFL order one directly from Springfield? Are they just produced in very low numbers?
I’ve been itching to buy a 1911 again, and this one would be quite nice.
The practical side of me keeps whispering to buy a pair of M&P 45’s stuffed full of Apex parts when they are all ready. I could get two pistols and a dozen mags from Grant for that same $1300.
Damn, I hate that whole “pride of ownership” thing…
Wilson 47D’s are still probably the gold standard for Gov’t Model mags and you shouldn’t have any issues with them in your new blaster.
Those are the Strider/Simonitch G10 grips. Extremely aggressive as they come out of the bag, but they give you some sandpaper to make them the way you want them. I hit them a few times with the sandpaper and they’re very comfy now without gloves.
The VZ grips are equally good, and not as aggressive. I have a set on my Wilson CQB.
